Production kicks off for the documentary «DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN»
Switzerland’s agricultural sector is under constant fire—yet hardly anyone truly understands how it actually works.
The producers of the box-office success «Downhill Skiers» are bringing a new documentary to the big screen with «DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN», based on the bestselling book of the same name by Blaise Hofmann.
It is the book of the moment. Published shortly before the farmers’ protests in 2024, it struck a chord and sparked a nationwide debate. Interest has remained strong ever since. Now, the documentary film «DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN»—based on the bestselling book published by Atlantis Verlag by French-speaking Swiss author and winemaker Blaise Hofmann—is in production. The film explores the profound transformation of Swiss agriculture and puts the spotlight on the people working between tradition and structural change, between pride and economic pressure—facing a society that seemingly believes it knows how farmers should do their jobs.
Hardly a day goes by without another piece of bad news increasing the pressure on farmers and deepening the divide between urban and rural areas in Switzerland. In cities, people debate animal welfare and sustainability, yet often reach for the cheapest steak at the checkout. At the same time, many farms are struggling with rising demands, increasing price pressure, and powerful players in the food market. Yet agriculture is already undergoing change. More and more farmers are seeking new paths in an effort to regain a degree of independence.
The cinematic documentary «DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN» examines this tension. It follows farmers from all four language regions of Switzerland, painting a multifaceted picture of an industry in transition.
The film is directed by experienced Swiss documentary filmmaker Norbert Jenal: “The film highlights the complexity of the current agricultural crisis. From declining incomes and bureaucratic hurdles to the loss of traditional practices, farmers are increasingly finding themselves reduced to landscape managers. These are the issues I address, making them tangible through personal stories.”
Blaise Hofmann adds: “Art in general—and cinema in particular—makes it possible to render the farming world tangible, to approach it more through emotion than through intellect, more with the gut than with the head.” Producer Roger Kaufmann comments: “With his literary exploration of a quintessentially Swiss subject, Blaise Hofmann has struck a nerve. His assessment of Swiss agriculture is as detailed as it is unsparing. Norbert Jenal is a stroke of luck for the film adaptation: he speaks all four national languages and has the sensitivity needed to earn the trust of the protagonists, allowing them to open up and share their stories honestly.”
«DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN» is produced by Ascot Elite Entertainment. The producing quartet—Roger Kaufmann, Karin G. Dietrich, Ralph S. Dietrich and Stephan Giger—stands for successful feature and documentary productions such as «DIE NACHBARN VON OBEN», the current box-office hit «DOWNHILL SKIERS», as well as «HALLO BETTY», «PLATZSPITZBABY» and «ZWINGLI», on which they collaborated as partners.
The film is conceived as a nationwide Swiss project and integrates all four national languages. Filming runs from April to autumn 2026. The Swiss theatrical release, distributed by Elite Film AG, is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
«DIE KUH IM DORF LASSEN» is a production of Elite Filmproduktion AG in co-production with Swiss Radio and Television and SRG SSR. Supported by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), Zurich Film Foundation, Cultural Promotion Graubünden, Central Switzerland Film Funding, Cultural Promotion Canton of Zug, Ernst Göhner Foundation, and the Suissimage Culture Fund.
In the image: on the left Norbert Jenal (director), on the right Blaise Hofmann (author)
